Clothes cleaner



Dec. 25, 1923. 11,478,973

w. E. MCMORDIE CLOTHES CLEANER Filed Oct. 15. 1922 Patented Dec. 25, 1223.

WILLIAM E. MCMORDIE, OF HAMILTON, TEXAS.

CLOTHES CLEANER.

Application filed ()ctober 13, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. MoMoR- DIE, citizen of the United States, residing at Hamilton, in the county of Hamilton and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in clothes cleaners and pertains more especially to cleaners of the vacuum or suction type.

' The primary object of the invention is to provide a cleaner having a cone-like pounding or clothes engaging element with improved valve means which latter are of extremely simple and economical construction and which operate easily and quickly on the up-stroke of the pounder to close, effecting a suction-like action on the clothes and lifting the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve construction wherein the valves can be easily and quickly assembled or secured in operative position to the pounder.

The invention still further aims to provide novel means for protecting and for also limiting the movement of the valves to open or inoperative position and which means also serves to agitate the water.

The invention also aims to provide a clothes pounder which embodies a minimum of parts that are compactly assembled and also one which involves a minimum of movas able parts, enabling the entire structure to be economically produced.

With the above and further objects in view the invention resides in the construction and combination of parts now to be described and later herein claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1, is a vertical sectional view of the invention, and

Figure 2, is a section on line 22 of Figure 1.

In proceeding in accordance ,with the present invention a hollow cone-shaped or cup-like member 1 is employed having a socket 2 extending upwardly from its apex, to receive a handle 3, which latter may be made of wood and suitably affixed, to and in the socket by means, for example, of a pin 3.

The member 1 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending tubular parts 4;, which latter form air ports or passages, that have their lower ends secured to the member 1- Serial No. 594,252.

and in communication with the interior of the latter, while the upper ends of the parts 4 are open to the atmosphere above the member 1 and are equipped with outwardly extending valve seats 5. Preferably, the parts 4 are of circular cross-section and the valve seats 5 of ring-like contour, but it is to be expressly understood that other shapes may be given these recited parts if desired.

The valve seats 5 are secured in any suitable manner to the upper ends of the tubes and are provided with preferably integral valve supporting arms 6 that iextending radially outwardly and upwardly at an incline from the peripheries of the valve seats and are formed of metal or material capable of being easily bent. The valves are formed of any desired material such as rubber, or other composition or material which possesses suflicient flexibility and are each constructed to have a body 7 of preferably circular form and a radial outwardly extending arm 8, the latter enabling swinging of the valve and being engaged with the supporting arms 6. The opposite sides of the arms 6 are bent over and inwardly at 9 to lie on top of the valve arms 8 so as to clamp the latter firmly to the valve seats, the bent portions 9 providing clamping ears which efiectually secure or attach the valve arms to the valve seats.

For the purpose of limiting the opening or unseating movement of the valves a disklike dished member 10 is secured to the handle socket 2 and extends in overlying relation to the valves and at such spaced distance therefrom as to engage the valves and prevent undue unseating action thereof. The member 10 further serves to protect the 95 valve structures and also acts, on the downstroke of the pounder to force the water downwardly and agitate same to thereby assist in more expeditious cleaning of the clothes. A

A plate 11 is used and secured to the member 1 adjacent its apex and is also secured to the lower end of socket 2 to close the latter and also to brace the parts.

From the above it will be manifest that the invention embodies but two movable flap valves and that all springs or separate valve hinges or pivots or other movable parts are eliminated, thereby simplifying the construction and resulting in economy in the 110 cost of production.

In order to replace orrenew worn valves,

this may be effected by mere outward bending of the clamping ears 9 in order to allow removal of the worn valve and the substitution therefor of a new valve followed by return of the clamping ears 9 to clamping )0- sition.

What is claimed is 1. In a valve structure,a supporting memher having a plurality of valve seats and having a radial supporting arm extending upwardly from each at an incline, valves of flexible material. engaged with the respective valve seats and each having a radial arm engaged with the respective supporting arms of the valve seats, the sides of the supporting arms being bent over and inwardly to lie in clamping engagement with the valve arms,

and a combined valve protecting and movement-limiting disk carried by the member and overlying the valves.

2. In a valve structure, a supporting memher, having valve seats and having upwardly extending valve supporting arms, and flexible valves engaged on the seats and having arms. engaged with the supporting arms, the supporting arms having their opposite sides bent into, clamping engagement with the valve arms.

3.111 a valve structure, a supporting member, having valve seats and having upwardly extending valve supporting arms, and flexible valves engaged on they seats and having arms engaged with the supporting arms, the supporting arms each having a part thereof bent into clamping engagement with one of the valve arms.

t. In a valve structure, a member having an air port, a valve seat for the port having a bendable arm extending outwardly therefrom, and a valve on the seat having a flexible arm engaged avith the bendable arm and the latter having a part clampingly bentagainst the flexible arm to hold same onto the bendable arm.

5. In. a device of the type set. forth, a base member, upwardly facing valve seats carried by the member, a central member carried by and extending upwardly from the base member, upwardly swingable valves carried by the base member and engaged with said-seats, and a member rigidly secured at its center tosaid central} member and being disposed above. the valves and spaced herefrom whereby to protect the valves and to, limit upward movement thereoif.

I testimony whe e f I a-ffix my ig a-tillfe-- WVILLI'AM E. MQMQRDIE, 

